Despite a battling performance, a depleted Portland Red Triangle team slid to their sixth successive NSA Dorset Division defeat at Stalbridge. The islanders lost by 49 runs to their North Dorset opponents after a hard fought struggle.

After being put into bat, the home team lost skipper Matt Chant to a catch behind by Will Curtis off Simon Browne in the seventh over. The visitors had further success when Jamie Dyke fell to the same combination with the score on 46 in the 17th over, before a third-wicket stand rescued the hosts.

Opener Pete Anyan (65) and Chris Miles (56) compiled a patient partnership of 123 runs in 25 overs to give their side the upper hand. Browne, Jan Davey and Gary Randell all bowled economically and well, but were unable to grab the vital third wicket and swing the game back in the Portlanders' favour.

Anyan eventually fell to a catch off by Jason Styles off Graham Elenor in the 42nd over with the score on 169, but by then the damage had been done as far as Triangle were concerned. A few lusty blows during the final eight overs lifted the Stalbridge total to 231-5 at the close of the innings. [Webmaster note: to put on 62 in 8 overs is more than a few lusty blows Graham (6 overs, 1-42)]

The Stalbridge opening attack, spearheaded by current Dorset opening bowler Steve Forshaw and (Matt) Chant, a former county player, then set about dismantling the visitors reply. Simon Barrett was the first to go, caught behind off Chant with the score on 10 and his opening partner Davey was yorked by the same bowler with the score on 21. Will Curtis mishooked a bouncer from Chant with the score on 24 and when Gary Randell popped up a return catch to Andy Dyke, the Triangle innings was in tatters at 47-4.

However an excellent fifth-wicket partnership of 114 between Browne and Styles put the islanders back in the game. Browne (61) and Styles (59) batted together for 26 overs to keep the home attack at bay and give the score some respectability, despite never really threatening the Stalbridge total.

The return of Chant and Forshaw brought about the demise of both batsmen as the home skipper recorded figures of 5-32 in his ten overs, leaving the Triangle innings to close on 182-8.

Triangle spokesman [Webmaster note: Triangle spokesman? That's usually you Graham, and why aren't you, as captain, providing the after-match comments??] (Vice-Captain) Simon Barrett was pleased with the way the team played. "We've taken a lot of positives out of the game," he said. "We competed well all the way through, although in the end thay had two opening bowlers who were a little bit too much for us.

"Generally we bowled and fielded as well as they did and Simon and Jason both proved they have the technique and ability to bat at this level. Hopefully we can build on this in the second half of the season."